Second World War heavy anti aircraft gun site, 'TN2 Butlers Farm', Sutton (EHER 14872)

A heavy anti-aircraft gun site at Butler's Farm, designated 'TN2', (Thames North 2), dating to World War Two. There were originally four octagonal gun emplacements in a semi-circle facing east, with another gun emplacement at each end of the semi-circle. Remains of the command post is marked by an earthen mound. The four gun emplacements, which mounted 3.7-inch guns, remain as concrete blocks, each with ammunition recesses and shelters for the gun crews. Documented between 1940-1946. Also designated 'Diver Battery N2' when it was used as a six gun Diver battery from 26th July 1944, when it was manned by 617 Battery of 184 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Regiment. On 24th November it was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL II, GL IIC, and SCR584 Radars. Scheduled.

March 1995. Desktop research. World War Two anti aircraft battery on vertical photography. The two square gun emplacements were removed before 1970. <1> - <5> July 1998. World War Two heavy anti aircraft gun sites survey: desktop research. NGRs: gun emplacements, TQ 8986 8888; accommodation site, TQ 8970 8892. Documented in contemporary records as 'TN2 Butlers Farm', a World War Two heavy anti-aircraft gun site north of Southend-on-Sea. Equipment and manning at the site is documented at various dates (<6>): Manning Date Guns Radar Regt Bty 30 Apr 1940 unmanned 2 Jun 1940 4 x 3.7" 167 20 May 1942 4 x 3.7"(s) none 104 329 22 Jun 1942 4 x 3.7"(s) none 9 Dec 1943 184(M) 617 15 Jan 1946 - - An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows the site in open fields. There are four octagonal or circular gun emplacements in a semi-circle facing east. The design of these appears to conform to that shown diagrammatically as 'probably to DFW 55414' (<7>) - an emplacement with seven external integral ammunition recesses and two external integral shelters. At each end of the semi-circle there is a further square gun emplacement. These each have four internal ammunition recesses. The rectangular command post - conforming to that shown diagrammatically as type DFW 55402 (<8>) - is in the centre of the semi-circle of gun emplacements. Approximately 200 yards to the west, on the east side of Shopland Road, at least 30 huts and structures of the accommodation site can be seen. <6> <9> <10> October 1998. World War Two heavy anti aircraft gun sites survey: site visit. On an area of scrub and thicket between the fields of Butlers Farm, the four octagonal emplacements still remain, providing the sole surviving examples of this type in Essex. The inner part of the emplacements, where the gun stood, is almost circular and measures approximately 27' across. Scraping the accumulated earth away at the centre of the northernmost emplacement, a holdfast of four steel girders embedded in the concrete base in a square pattern can be seen. These are 9" wide with 5'8" between opposite sides. There are signs of stud or bolt holes. For a comparative photograph of this type of holdfast see bottom of p.54, in source <11>. Each emplacement has seven ammunition recesses measuring 6' square and some of these retain lettering, 'A' to 'G', in white paint. On the wall of one of the ammunition recesses in emplacement no. 3 (counting from the north), the letters 'SHRAP' can be made out - clearly the remains of 'SHRAPNEL'. On opposite sides, between the ammunition recesses, there are two small chambers which lead to the shelters. These are external but integral with the main structure and measure 15'6" x 8'. The construction of each emplacement is of concrete blocks; it is 6' high with an outer diameter of 42' from the rear of opposite ammunition recesses. There is some cracking in places but essentially they remain in good condition. At the site of the command post there is a huge pile of soil which is completely overgrown with high brambles. There is some broken brick and concrete around and in the ground but it is impossible to tell whether the command post has been demolished or whether it remains extant beneath the heaped-up earth. Nothing remains of the accommodation site. <12> Eleven photographs were taken of the site. <13> Site Assessment: The four emplacements survive in good condition as the only remaining examples of their type in the county. As such they are important historical structures which provide a pattern both for study and as a physical record of similar emplacements now demolished elsewhere. The possibility that the command post survives intact or semi-intact beneath the soil remains a potential bonus. <12> <13> 1999. Site visit. Site visited as part of the MPP programme. 15 photos of site. <14> July 2000. Scheduled Monument. Site scheduled as Scheduled Monument No 32430 on 3 July 2000. <15> May 2003. Desktop research. A wartime aerial photograph taken on 13 February 1943 shows that the accommodation buildings were, in the main, to the south of the track which leads to the gun emplacements. At least ten can be seen in a broad swathe paralleling Shopland Road. Only three can be seen north of the track. A 1:7700 aerial photograph taken after the war, on 13 September 1948, shows the site in great detail. By that time the accommodation site had grown to six buildings north of the track and approximately 28 south of it. <16> <17> NRHE data transfer: Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft battery TN2 at Butler's Farm. It was armed with four 3.7-inch static guns in 1942, when it was manned by 329 Battery of the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment. In 1943 it was manned by 617 Battery of the 184th (Mixed) Royal Artillery Regiment. It was retained as a Nucleus Force Headquarters Battery in 1946. <6> Also designated Diver Battery N2 when it was used as a six gun Diver battery from 26th July 1944, when it was manned by 617 Battery of 184 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Regiment. On 24th November it was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL II, GL IIC, and SCR584 Radars. <18>